How long marijuana really stays in your system - the timeline might surprise you

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December 2025 directing the attorney general to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug, the most dangerous drug classification, to a Schedule III, which are controlled substances with moderate dependence risk and accepted medical use. However, nothing has been done so far to change marijuana’s classification, so for the time being, there are no plans to update federal workplace drug policy on drug testing.

At the state level it is a different story. Using marijuana for medical purposes is now legal in forty states and Washington D.C. and twenty-four states and the District of Columbia allow recreational use.

Because of these changes to state laws, some have provided protections to employees who use the narcotic in their free time, but drug testing is still allowed. So how long does the primary psychoactive cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, stay in your body?

The amount of time THC stays in your system depends on several factors

While the effects of THC will wear off within a few hours if smoked, metabolites, small molecules that the body has broken down from the substance, can stay on for several weeks. There is no way to cleanse your body other than to quit using marijuana and letting your body naturally detox, which you can help through a healthy diet, staying hydrated and exercise.

American Addiction Centers warns those thinking that they can beat a drug test with detoxification kits that they could be dangerous. A study found that many of the ingredients in a THC at-home detox kit an individual used, who developed psychotic symptoms, could cause liver dysfunction.

The length of time that THC will show up in a drug test after you last smoked weed or consumed an edible depends on a range of factors. These include “frequency of use, level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the marijuana, metabolism, and hydration can all impact the results of a drug test,” according to American Addiction Centers.

Additionally, THC is detectable through a variety of tests including blood, breath, hair, saliva, sweat, and urine, each of which vary in the length of time that the compound will show up in a test. For example, hair is the longest at up to 90 days, urine as long as a month, sweat for up to two weeks, saliva a full day, blood 12 hours, and breath three hours.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.